The President of the Republic, His Excellency Dr. George Mane Weah, has set another first in history by signing into law a number of landmark bills aimed at promoting national integration and combating graft and corruption in the country. .
The bills, signed into law by the president, include dual citizenship, which many political regimes have shrugged off despite public outcry about their discriminatory nature. The President signed the Law “On citizenship and restoration of citizenship rights lost as a result of previous legislative provisions”.
The dual citizenship bill signed by the president allows Liberians in the diaspora to remain citizens after acquiring another citizenship.
In addition, the bill states that those with dual citizenship status would be barred from holding the office of president, finance minister, central bank governor, or high-ranking national security or law enforcement positions.
Another landmark piece of legislation is the Liberia Revenue Distribution Act, which promotes decentralization and economic inclusion across the country.
He also signed into law the Anti-Corruption Commission of Liberia and the Re-establishment of the Anti-Corruption Commission of Liberia, the Financial Intelligence Agency Act and the Anti-Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing, Preventive Measures and Proceeds of Crime Act, the Witness Protection Act, to be known as the Witness Protection Act 2021 and the Whistleblower Protection Act 2021 (July 29).
The bills signed by President Weah at various intervals between June and July 2022 are meant to provide adequate legal leverage and perimeters in line with changing developments in the governance of the country.
In addition, the bills are in line with President Weah’s legal reform initiatives to complement the government’s development agenda.
Others include the Ratification Act to amend the Financing Agreement – Tree Crops Extension Project II (ICEP) between Liberia and the International Monetary Fund for Agricultural Development, the Ratification Act to the Loan Agreement between the Republic of Liberia and the African Development Fund ( Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone Project, An Act to amend the Executive Law of Liberia and to establish the Liberian Standards Authority, and an Act to ratify the Financing Agreement (Investment, Finance and Trade Project) between the Republic of Liberia and the International Development Association.
President Weah also signed into law an act to ratify the Investment and Incentive Agreement between the Republic of Liberia and Liberty Investment Limited, an act to amend public law to establish a National Response Coordination Center and an act to amend subsections 1,2(Q), 1, 3,5, 1,4,3, 1,8,6,7,2 and 14.10.1.14 of the Act to further amend Part I (Business) of the Corporations Act ) and Part III (Parties and Limited Partnerships Act liability) of the Associations Act, Chapter 5, Codes of the Laws of Liberia, Revised.
The Chief Executive of Liberia also signed into law the National Budget Restatement for Fiscal Year 2022 to Provide for the Expenditures of the Government of Liberia, An Act to Amend and Recast Chapter 30: The Partnership of Associations Act, Chapter 5 of the Code of Liberia Revised Laws, An Act to Amend and Rewrite to Chapter 31: Limited Liability Company of the Associations Act, Chapter 5, Revised Code of Laws of Liberia, An Act to Amend Chapter 3: Mortgage of Privileged Vessels and Maritime Liens on Ships of Liberia Maritime Court, Chapter 21, Revised Code of Laws of Liberia, and Act to amend sections 10.2, 10.4 and 10.6 of chapter 10 of the Criminal Procedure Code, section 2 of the Code of Laws of Liberia, revised to provide for the time and power of arrest .
Also signed into law is an act to amend section 16 of the Criminal Procedure Act providing for plea bargaining, an act to amend section 36 of the Judiciary Act, section 17 of the Laws of Liberia, as revised to appoint additional substitute judges for district courts , An Act to ratify the Agreement for the Promotion and Protection of Investments between the Republic of Liberia and the OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID) and An Act to amend sections 12.1 and 12.2 of chapter 12 of criminal procedure title 2 of the Code of Liberia, as revised and providing for a new standard of preliminary examination cases outside the tribal jurisdiction of justices of the peace.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of the Republic of Liberia: Executive Mansion.
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